Losing Stuff? Leaving Gear Behind? Some Tips...

I can't say I'm getting old, I'll be 44 in a few weeks. That's not exactly up there.  But I am super busy with starting a SUP instructor certification organization, running my paddling business and maintaining my barely alive photography biz.

Being overwhelmed means I'm forgetting things.  I've been missing a few appointments and meetings here and there, and even worse forgetting my paddling gear in the parking lot or bringing the wrong gear to the beach. After a few months of this, I've come up with a semi fool proof system of reducing my paddle preparation blunders.  Here's some tips..

I both kayak and SUP.  I occasionally bring a kayak paddle with my SUP or forget my spray skirt when I go kayaking.

Garage / House Storage:
- Hang my sprayskirt off my kayak bow in the garage to dry.  It's always there when I need it.
- Always keep a SUP fin and a leash in my plastic travel bucket.
- Have two paddle buckets, one for each type of paddling. Downside is that I may grab the wrong one.
- Store my kayak paddle in the cockpit of my kayak.
- Lay my SUP paddle on top of my SUP.
- If I know what I'm taking the night before, set everything on or in each craft.

Car Storage:
- Leave essential yet commonly forgotten items in the car. For me - hood, booties, gloves.
- Store one or both paddles in the car especially if they break down to 2 or 3 pieces.
- Leave a checklist in the car to remind myself of my list of gear.

Prevention of Loss of Gear in Public Places:
- Wrap colorful electrical tape around the shaft of your paddles.
- Mark all items with your contract info.  I've recovered gear twice this way.
- Find a way of keeping all gear attached to eachother when leaving beach.
- Before you pull out of the lot, do a gear check under your car, etc.
- Worse case, keep a list of items in the car to remind yourself what to bring home.

Tip: Get a automatic self bailing pump for your kayak if you forget my your spray skirt often. I surfed a bunch of waves without one and had to go in every ten or so minutes to dump the water out of the cockpit.  Not fun.  Better yet, get an open deck kayak or surfski.

17' Touring SUP Progression

It all started with an interest to create a SUP with sea kayak style hatches to carry camping gear for up to a week or longer.  SUPs currently don't have interior cargo space thus if you want to go on an overnight, all your gear has to be strapped on top.  The downside is gear shifting, wind catching the load, exposure to elements, and difficulty uprighting if the board flips over.

I also wanted a SUP which was as a fast as my sea kayak to make longer trips easier.  One could use the board for racing, fishing or casual paddles as well.  I contacted Sterling Donaldson who in turn was interested in taking the board to production once completed.  I purchased one of the first Illusion sea kayaks from Sterling and have been very satisfied with the boat ever since for all types of water.  The boat's exterior IS bombproof for a sea kayak and at 17' long is 37lbs (carbon).  I wanted that construction in a touring SUP.

I began to research SUP shapers and kayak designers. After a few bumps, I ended up with Sean Thomas, a carpenter and successful SUP racer from Issaquah, WA.  Sean listened to what I wanted but also brought in expertise from several years of racing SUPs in the Northwest.

Our first prototype was a 18 foot board we titled 'Big Blue' for it's blue toned finish.  The board is slow off the start but quickly gained speed and is easily as fast as any sea kayak. We made it 29" wide for stability since I'm 6'-5" and 230lbs.  I had issues of finding long fast boards which were stable.  I wanted a board all could use, just the most experienced racers.

After several months of tests, I surfed Big Blue in up to 5 foot surf, 35kt winds, downwinded it, upwinded it, surfed several tug waves up to 4-6' faces, raced it, and even did an epic session at Deception Pass in big standing waves.  We deciced Blue neeed some changes in order to be a successful board for me and the public.

In May 2013, Sean rolled out the Explorer, a 17' board which we presented in unfinished form at the Northwest Paddle Festival in Issaquah.  We realized 18' was too long and made the board slower. We brought in the beam 1" to gain speed withoutt losing stability, lowered the stern rocker, took some Vee out of the nose, pitched the front deck to shed water, flattened the standing deck, and raised the stern deck to add more storage.  The final design will have two main storage hatches and a 'day' hatch on the deck to access smaller items on the water.  We'll probably add a rudder system down the road.  We're currently using the Ninja fin by Larry Allison.  

If the 17' prototype is ideal, we'll use it as the plug and hand it over to Sterling to create a mould.  My hope is to be surfing it at Skook in BC alongside Sterling's other boats in the near future.

Contacts:
- Sean Thomas, Echo Composites, sean@echosup.com
- Sterlings Kayaks, Sterling Donalson, sterlingskayaks@msn.com

17' Prototype, unfinished.

Hand / Arm Signals for Paddlers

If you're downwinding, surfing, or in rough water offshore, you may need to communicate with fellow paddlers.  If the wind and/or surf noise drowns out voices, hand and arm signals will be the only way to  connect with others.

Here's a few useful links with info on hand/arm signals thanks to the University of Sea Kayaking..

Signaling

Hand / Arm Signals

Sun Block Tips for Paddlers

Avoid putting sunblock on your forehead.  When you sweat, it may run into your eyes.  Cover your forehead instead with a wide brimmed hat (Gerry Lopez style).  

Also after applying sunbock, wash your hands off.  Otherwise they can be slippery and can be an issue in holding your paddle.  

Safety note: Laird Hamilton and one other I know suggested not wearing sunblock at all due to damaging the environment and that the chemicals in sunblock may give you cancer.  For me, a guy from Irish/Scottish decent and blue eyes, I burn easily and not wearing it may give me cancer.  Choose what works for you.  I use Sol Sunguard, a Seattle based company with products which last for quite a while after being immersed in water.  

Become a Sponsor for the Round the Rock SUP Race, Sept 8th in Seattle!

As the premiere SUP race in the Pacific Northwest, the 5th annual Round the Rock will be held on Sunday Sept 8th this year in Seattle.  With nearly 300 participants attending in 2012, the race is said to larger this year.  The race consists of a 13 mile circumnavigation of Mercer Island, a 3.5 mile course, a kids race and a team relay race.  There's a Sweep and Weep format for the 13 mile race with $10k in price money at stake.

Top paddlers such as Chuck Patterson, Karen Wrenn, Thomas Shahinian and our local Beau Whitehead are among those who have competed in the race.

For Sponsorship info follow this link, Here.

Sponsors wanting to be listed in the summer issue of SUP Magazine need to confirm by May 5th. All others, June 30th.

Event Link: http://roundtherock.com

Foil Tape for Quicky Ding Repairs

Looking for a quick repair for your dinged board or boats? I've been using Foil Tape for years.  It sticks on most wet surfaces, provides a stiffer surface than packing tape, and can be carried flat in a slim waterproof container while on the water.

When you need to fix the ding with epoxy, it pulls off your board easily as well.  I also find it stays on better than tape which can peel of while in the water.

Recently I was able to use it to attach a damaged fin onto a board and surf a session without any issues.

Find it at most hardware stores such as Home Depot.

Paddling Festival Event & Booth Tips

Is your company having a booth/tent at an upcoming paddle or outdoor festival?  Here's some tips to be better prepared...

Using a pop-up tent?
- Bring cinder blocks or large sized sand bags to secure all four corners down.  Wrap paddle rack straps around each pole from top to bottom then attach to your weight. Heavier is better.  Plastic paint buckets are good too.  Rope can be used to tie the tent down on all four corners to logs or rocks.  One rep I know brings a sledge hammer and 3' metal stakes to secure the tent to the ground.  We lost a tent once in gale force winds..

- Get a tent with your logo printed on several sides and top. Or print up banners to attach on.

- Bring small weights or use rocks to keep brochures from blowing around.

- Bring a variety of clothing if the weather gets cold or varies throughout the day.

- Bring cash for the festival food options or bring your own including hydration.

- Arrive early to get the best location for your tent for most exposure (or inquire prior to event day).


Doing On-Water Demos?
- Is the festival covering customer insurance?  If not get liability forms for everyone to sign.

- Limit on-water demos to 10-15min.  We've had to chase folks down to get them back to shore.

- Bring vest style PFDs, leashes and paddles for demo use.  If it's a big event bring different sizes of PFDs and paddles (or adjustables). Partner with other companies to show off their gear!  Make sure everyone has a PFD on.  I had a person last Spring who fell in and started yelling "I can't swim!" Apparently she lied on the liability form about knowing how to swim.  Sh.. happens, be ready for anything.

- Have a demo fleet always ready for festivals.  These should be new or almost new boards.  Don't bring your beaters as buyers will be looking at everything including the exterior.

- Be ready to give customers a mini SUP lesson so be ready with rubber boots, booties or sandals to help folks get on the water.  Never assume they know how to paddle.

- Do you have a safety plan in case there's an accident?  Does the event have an EMT available?  Can you get to a person struggling on-water?  Can you do a flip rescue and have a method of getting them back to shore quickly?

- Take breaks throughout the day and/or hire others to help out. During busy events we'd have one person in the tent talking to attendees and 1-2 putting people on the water.  If you hire folks to assist, makes sure they know your products and are safe paddlers.

Marketing
- Print up several hundred business cards and/or rack card / brochures to hand out.

- Promote your booth # and festival location prior to event. Create an event Facebook page to promote you presence at the festival.  Keep the page updated with updates and photos and invite your friends.

- Get the emails for those interested in your products/services.

- Follow up after the event to festival attendees who like your products or services.